Great Falls offers in-home pet care

Elaine Christensen does her own special form of pet care, going to clients' homes to walk, feed and play with their pet or bringing their dog or cat into her own home.

After 25 years of working in an accounting firm, the last 10 as a certified public accountant, she said she was "looking for an outside job with no desks."

"I made up the job in my head," she recalled. "I loved animals and realized I wanted to do something involving them, but didn't want to go back to school for years to become a veterinarian."

Instead, Christensen got advice from friends and put fliers out. Within six months her business was thriving, meeting the needs of people willing to pay for in-their-home care for their pets.

She has tended all kinds of pets, but primarily dogs and cats. At first she provided occasional daycare for some pets, while their owners went to work. But her schedule filled so much that she now provides individual care strictly for pet owners who are traveling for at least a few days at a time.

In fact, Christensen is so busy she's taking no new customers currently at Elaine's VIP Services, which stands for "very important pet."

Her services run from $15 for a once-a-day in home visit to $250 for a week's stay.

Christensen said she has enjoyed pets most of her life.

"I love their animals," she said. "I'm very careful, don't let them run free and care for them just like my own pets."

He uses her service when he takes overnight trips with his job with the federal Department of Justice and during some vacations.

"When I travel, Elaine cares for my cocker spaniel Benedict and actually sleeps with him in my bed," he said.

"Elaine loves animals and Benedict loves her," Rezentes said. "He walks around the house looking for her when I return."

"The cost of such care is reasonable to me, because Benedict is an older dog and I feel more comfortable with him remaining at home rather than being placed in a kennel. Elaine is absolutely reliable and gives him premier care."